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Oi,'R    LORD     BEARING      THE     CROSS. 


T}^  H    [MI  0  gT©  [^Y    ©  ? 


^\^   ILli^gl©    [L©[^©. 


THE    HISTORY 


OF 


OUE    BLESSED    LORD, 


IN   EASY  VERSE, 


FOR    YOUNG    CHILDREN 


ffiS^iti)  illustrations. 


FROM    THE  LONDON  EDITION. 


NEW-YORK: 

GENERAL    PROTESTANT    EPISCOPAL 

SUNDAY    SCHOOL    UNION. 

DKPOSITORY    20    JOHN    STREET. 
13  4  5. 


PREFACE   TO   THE   AMERICAN   EDITION. 

The  little  readers  of  this  History  should  be  informed,  when  looking  at  its 
illustrations,  that  we  have  no  true  likeness  of  our  Blessed  Lord,  but  only 
such  representations  of  His  person  as  have  been  conceived  in  the  imagination 
of  some  great  men,  who  never  saw  Him,  but  have  given  their  whole  minds 
to  the  contemplation  of  His  divine  perfections  as  described  in  the  Sacred 
Scriptures. 

But  it  must  not  be  supposed,  that  it  was  ever  in  the  power  of  any  man  to 
imagine  the  thousandth  part  of  the  beauty,  and  loveliness,  and  majesty  which 
shone  in  the  features  of  the  Divine  Saviour  :  and  it  has  not  pleased  Him 
that  we  should  have  them  as  they  actually  were,  before  our  eyes.  We  do 
not  know  the  reason ;  but  we  do  know,  that  He  who  is  infinite  in  Wisdom 
had  a  reason  for  it.  Sufficient  would  it  be  for  us,  if  every  man  and  woman, 
and  every  child  should  strive  to  be  like  Him  in  character,  and  then,  we  aie 
sure  that  their  very  countenances  would  grow  more  and  more  like  His. 

Yet,  those  great  men  just  spoken  of,  have  striven  to  fix  in  their  mind  such  a 
lively  sense  of  the  Saviour's  manifold  perfections,  as  to  enable  them  to  por- 
tray  upon  the  canvass  something  which  should  serve  to  excite  and  elevate 
our  feebler  conceptions;  and  for  this  we  may  well  thank  them,  while  we 
guard  against  a  misunderstanding  of  their  works,  or  a  use  of  them  which 
they  did  not  intend. 


Bfrectfons  for  t|)c  33lat€». 


OUR  LORD  BEARING  HIS  CROSS, Frontispiece. 

OUR  LORD  IN  THE  TEMPLE TofdCe  page  18 

OUR  LORD  HEALING  THE  SICK ,      ...      29 

OUR  LORD  MOCKED ,      .      42 

OUR  lord's  BURIAL    .  •      .      .      52 

OUR  lord's  ASCENSION  58 


THE 


HISTORY  OF  OUR  BLESSED  LORD. 

IN    E'ASY    VERSE. 


I. 

THE  CREATION,  FALL,  AND  FLOOD. 

Before  the  sun  and  moon  were  made, 

Or   earth,    or   sea,    or   sky, 
Our  Blessed  Saviour  dwelt  in  heaven. 

And   reigned   with  God  on   high: 

Then  God  the  Father,  God  the  Son, 
And   God   the   Holy   Ghost, — 

One  God  in  Three, — made  all  the  world, 
And   all   the    heavenly  host. 


THE    HISTORY    OF 

This   earth   Jehovah   did   create, 

And   all   that  is   therein: 
And   what   a   lovely   earth   it  was 

Till   cursed   by   Adam's   sin! 

But   Adam  fell,  and  brought  the  world 
Beneath   that  heavy   curse; 

And   then   his   sons   were   wicked   too, 
And  men   grew   worse    and   worse ; 

Till   God — preservmg   only  Noah 
In    ark   of  gopher   wood, — 

Broke   up   the   fountains   of  the   deep 
And  drowned   them   in   a  flood. 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD. 


II. 

GOD'S  MERCY. 

Now  though  the  world  had  thus  received 
A  judgment  from   the   Lord, 

They  still   rebelled  against  His  Name, 
Nor  kept   His   Holy  Word: 

For  Adam's  sin  was  in  their  hearts — 
His   curse   was    on   them   still — 

And  not  one  man  that  God  had  made 
Obeyed   His   Blessed   Will. 

All — all  were  lost — and  all  must  die! 

O   what   would   men   have   done 
If  God   had  not,  to  save  their  souls. 

Sent   down   His   only    Son  1 


8  THE    HISTORY    OP 

But  Jesus  from  His  Father's  Throne, 

Beheld,    with   pitying    eye, 
That  all  the  world  was  doomed  to  hell, 

Unless   He   came   to   die. 

And  so   He   left   the  joys  of  heaven 

And    all   His   angel   host, 
And  came  on  this  poor,  wretched  earth, 

To   save   His   creatures  lost. 

The    Son  of  God,  whose  awful  Face 
E'en    Seraphs   dare  not   scan. 

Came  down  from   His  Almighty  Throne, 
And   made   Himself  a   man. 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD. 


III. 


OUR  LORD  BORN,  AND  MADE  KNOWN  TO  THE 

GENTILES. 

He  was  a  little  Babe  at  first : — 
His   Virgin   Mother's   hands 

Within  a  manger  laid  him  down, 
Enwrapped   in   swaddling   bands. 

There  shepherds  came  to  worship  Him, 

And   wise   men   from   afar, 
Who  travelled   from   a   long    way  off. 

Where   they  had   seen   His   star. 

And   as   they  journeyed  from   the   East 

The   star   went   on   before. 
Until   its   light   had   guided   them 

To   Bethlehem's   stable  door. 


10  THE    HISTORY    OF 

And  there  the  wise  men  entered   in, 

And   did   their   God   behold, 
To   whom   they  offered   on  their  knees 

Myrrh,   frankincense,    and   gold. 

Now   Herod,   Judah's   wicked   king, 
Who   wished   to    slay   the   Lord, 

Had  said,  "When  ye  have  found  the  Babe, 
Be   sure   to   bring   me   word." 

But   God   forewarned   them   in   a  dream 

That   they   should   not   obey; 
And   so,  when  they  had  worshipped  Him, 

They   turned   and   went   their   way. 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  11 


IV. 

THE  MURDER  OF  THE  mNOCENTS. 

When  Herod  saw  that  he  was  mocked, 

He   was   exceeding   wroth; 
And,   in   the   fury   of  his   heart, 

He    sent  his   soldiers   forth. 

And   by   that  barbarous,  wicked  king 
Those   cruel   men   were   told 

To   murder   every   sucking   child, 
And   babes   of  two   years   old. 

Then  was  the  voice  of  Rachel  heard 
To   mourn   her   hapless   lot, 

'*  Refusing   to   be   comforted, 
Because   her  babes   were   not." 


12 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


But,  Rachel,  do  not  weep  for  them 
Upon   the   purple    sod — 

Rise  up  and  bless  those  happy  babes- 
First  martyrs  for   their   God! 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  13 


V. 

OUR  LORD'S  FLIGHT  INTO  EGYPT. 

Now   while   these   httle   innocents 

For   Blessed   Jesus   die, 
The   Virgin,   and   her   Holy   Child, 

In   haste   to   Egypt   fly. 

God  bade  them  go — by  Him  forewarned, 
From  Herod's  sword  they  fled ; 

Nor  came  they  back  till  Joseph  knew 
That  wicked  king  was  dead. 

And  then,  by  God's  command,  he  came 

And  dwelt  in  Galilee, 
In   his   own   city,    Nazareth, 

Where   he   was   wont   to  be; 


14 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


That  SO  the  holy  prophet's  word 
Accomphshed  might  be  seen, 

Which  said  the  Blessed  Jesus  should 
Be   called   a   Nazarene. 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  15 


VL 

THE  CHILDHOOD  OF  OUR  LORD. 

With  Joseph  and  with   Mary  dwelt 

The   holy    Son  of  God; 
The   King   of  kings,  the   Lord  of  lords, 

A   cottage   pavement  trod. 

St.   Joseph   was   a   humble  man — 

A   carpenter   by   trade, 
And   yet   whatever  Joseph   said 

Our   Blessed   Lord   obeyed. 

And  Mary   was    St.   Joseph's   wife, 
And   poor    and   humble   too ; 

Yet   whatsoe'er   His   mother   bade 
Would  Jesus    always   do. 


16 


THE    HISTORY    OP 


Arid  thus  he  taught   each   little  child, 
If  he   would   please   the  Lord, 

That  he   must   do   his   father's   will, 
And  mind  his   mother's   word. 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  17 


VII. 

OUR  LORD  IN  THE  TEMPLE.  ' 

At   twelve   years   old   our   Saviour   was 

In   wisdom   much    increased ; 
And  with   His   parents   He    went   up 

To   worship    at   the    Feast. 

And,    as  they  journeyed   back   again, 
The  Child   they   could   not   find. 

For   in   His   Father's   house   of  prayer 
He   had   remained   behind. 

And  there,  when  they  had  sought  for  Him, 
At   last   they  found   the   Lord 

Among   the   Doctors   of  the   Law, 
Attending   to    their   word. 


18  THE    HISTORY    OF 

And   all   those  aged  men   expressed 

Amazement   and   surprise, 
That   such   a   lowly   child    should   be 

So   learned   and   so   wise. 

Then  Mary   said   to   Jesus    Christ, 
*^  Son,  wherefore   didst   thou   stay? 

For  we  have  sought  Thee  sorrowing 
For   many   a   weary   day." 

Then  Jesus   answered  her  and   said, 
"  O   wherefore    sought  ye   me  ? 

For  wist   ye   not  that   I   must   in 
My  Father's   Temple  be?" 

And  then  He  rose  and  went  with  them ; 

For   Blessed   Jesus   still 
Remained   a   meek,   submissive    Child, 

Obedient   to   their   will. 


OUR     LORD     IN    THE      TtlVIPlE. 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  19 


VIII. 

ST.  JOHN  THE  BAPTIST  IN  THE  WILDERNESS. 

When  Jesus    Christ   began   to   be 

Near   thirty   years    of  age, 
The   thought  of  what   He   came  to  do 

Would   all   His   soul   engage. 

He   knew   He   was   the    Son   of  God, 
And   that   the   time   was   come 

When  He    must  quit   the   Virgin's   roof, 
And   leave   His   humble   home. 

Then,   with   a   girdle   on   his    loins, 
And  clothed   in  camel's   hair, 

St.  John  went  forth,  our  Saviour's  way 
Before   Him  to  prepare. 


20  THE    HISTORY    OF 

And   in   the   wilderness   he   cried, 

"  O   wicked  men,    repent ! 
Forsake   your   sins,    and   be   baptized, 

For   therefore  am   I   sent. 

"And,  lo,  there   cometh   after  me 

One   mightier   than   I, 
The   latchet   of  whose   shoes   I   am 

Not  worthy   to   untie. 

"  Then   haste,  and  yield  abundant  fruit, 

Lest  ye   consumed   be ; 
The    axe   is   laid   unto   the   root 

Of  every  barren   tree. 

"  The   Master's   fan  is  in   His   hand. 
And  He    will   purge    his  floor ; 

But   gather   all   the    fruitful    wheat 
Within   His   garner   door." 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  21 


IX. 

THE  BAPTISM  OF  OUR  LORD. 

Behold   the   Day-spring   from   on   high 
That   once   o'er   Eden   shone ! 

Christ   Jesus   comes   from   Gahlee 
To   be    baptized  of  John. 

But  John   rephes,    "  Sure   I   have   need 

To   be   baptized   of  Thee ! 
And   comest   Thou,    O    Lamb   of  God, 

To   be   baptized   of  me  ?" 

Then  Jesus   said,    "  Nay  let   it   be, 
That   God   His    Son  may  bless, 

And   that  I   may  for   man  fulfil 
The   law  of  righteousness." 


22  THE    HISTORY    OP 

Then,    where   the   river  Jordan   flows, 

Our  Saviour   entered   in, 
And  gave  the   blessed   water   power 

To   wash   away  our   sin. 

And,   as  from   out   the   hallowed  wave 
Our   Gracious   Lord   arose, 

A   lovely   and   a   wondrous   sight 
The   heavens   did   disclose ; 

For,  lo !   they   seemed   to   open  wide 
And,    full   of  grace    and   love. 

The   Holy    Spirit  on   His   Head 
Descended   like   a   dove ; 

And   spake  a   Voice — ^while    all   around 
With   holy   awe   were    seized, — 

"  This   is   mine   own   beloved   Son, 
In  whom   I   am   well   pleased." 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  23 


OUR  LORD'S  FASTING  AND  TEMPTATION. 

Then  went  our  Blessed   Saviour  forth 

Into   the   desert   rude, 
Where,   with  the  beasts,  for  forty  days 

He   dwelt  in   sohtude. 

He   drank  no   water   from   the   brook, 
He    ate   no   pleasant   bread; 

And   when  the  forty  days  were  past 
Our   Saviour   hungered. 

And  then,  behold,  drew  nigh  to  Him, 

There   in   the   wilderness, 
That   wicked   one   who   tempted   Eve 

And   Adam    to   transgress. 


24  THE    HISTORY    OF 

The   Devil   came   to   Jesus    Chjrist, 
And   to   our   Saviour   said, 

"  Now,  if  thou   be   the    Son   of  God, 
O    turn  these   stones   to   bread!" 

But   Jesus   answered,   in   reply, 
"  Behold,   thus    saith    the    Lord, 

Man   shall  not   live   by   bread    alone, 
But  by   God's  blessed  Word." 

Yet   Satan   still,  with  wicked   wiles. 
Would  Jesus    Christ   assail; 

But   all   in   vain   he   tempted   Him, 
For  he   could   not   prevail. 

At  last  he   took   our  Blessed   Lord 

Into    a   mountain   high, 
Whence  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth 

They  could   at   once  descry. 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD. 


25 


And   then   the    evil    spirit   said, 
"  Those    glories   dost   thou  see  ? 

Behold,   thou    shalt   be    king   of  all, 
If  thou   wilt   worship   me ! " 

These   daring  words   of   Satan   gave 

Our   Saviour   such   offence. 
That  He   would   suffer   him   no   more, 

But  said,   "  Go — get   thee  hence  ! " 

And  so  he  fled,  while  to  the    Lord 

Came   down   the   Seraphim, 
Who  worshipped  God's  own  Blessed  Son, 

And   ministered   to   Him. 


26  THE    HISTORY    OP 


XI. 

OUR  LORD  IN  GALILEE.— THE  APOSTLES  CHOSEN. 

The   Tetrarch   Herod,    after  this, 
Did   John   the   Baptist   take, 

And   cast   him   into   prison,   for 
His   wife   Herodias'   sake. 

For  John   had   said,    "  It  is  not  good 
To   have    thy   brother's    wife ; " 

And   so   Herodias   hated   him. 
And   sought  to   take   his   hfe. 

Now,   while    St.   John   in   prison  lay, 

In   sad  captivity, 
Christ   Jesus   from   the   desert  came. 

To   preach   in   Galilee : 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  27 

And,  full  of  wisdom,  truth,  and  grace, 
He    taught   throughout   the   land, 

And  cried,  "  Repent — Messiah  comes, 
His   kingdom   is   at   hand." 

Then  twelve   Apostles   Jesus   chose. 
That  they   might   with   Him  be  : 

St.   Peter   first,   then  James  and  John, 
The   sons   of  Zebedee ; 

Philip    and   Andrew,  faithful   friends, 

St.   James,  Alpheus'   son ; 
With   blessed    Saint   Bartholomew, 

That  holy,   guileless   one ; 

And   Matthew,   named   the   publican, 

Who  Jesus'   call    obeyed ; 
And    Simon,   Thomas,    and    St.   Jude, 

And   him   who    Christ   betrayed : 


28 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


And  these  twelve  chosen  men  went  forth 
To  journey   with   their   Lord, 

And   witness    all   he    said   and  did, 
And   preach   His   holy   Word. 


OUR    LORD     HtALINC     THE     SICK 


Endtcott  Orh 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  29 


XII. 

OUR  LORD'S  MIRACLES. 

Now   to  Gennesaret's   peopled   shore 
Our   Blessed   Saviour   came; 

And   cast  out  many   devils   there, 
And   healed   the   sick   and   lame : 

And  blinded  hearts  as  well  as  eyes 
From    Christ   received    their   sight 

"  The  people  who  in  darkness  sat 
Beheld   a   glorious   hght." 

He   raised   the   dead   to   life  again 

By  His   almighty   Voice ; 
He   bade   the   mourner  sing  for  joy, 

The   widow's   heart  rejoice : 


80 


THE    HISTORY    OP 


Yet, — though  the  foxes  have  their  holes, 
And   birds    their   downy  bed, — 

Our   Blessed  Saviour  had  not  where 
To  lay  His  gracious  Head! 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  81 


XIII. 

OUR  LORD'S  PREACHING. 

And  Jesus   taught   the   multitudes, 
And   preached  through  all  the  land:— 

Although  their  ears  were   dull  to  hear— 
Their  hearts,   to   understand. 

He  called   to  Him  the  burdened  soul — 
The   wearied   and   opprest — 

"  O   bear   My   easy   yoke,"  He   cried, 
"  And   I   will   give   you   rest ! " 

He  blest  the  poor,   the  sad,  the  meek, 

The   merciful,   the   pure. 
And  those  who  for  His  kingdom's  sake 

Revilings    should   endure. 


32  THE    HISTORY    OP 

But  when  the  rich  man  came  to  Him, 

He   was   by   Jesus   told 
To   sell   his   goods,    and   give    away 

His   silver    and   his   gold : 

For   they   who  follow   Jesus   Christ 

Must   gladly  suffer   loss, 
They  must  forsake   this   present   world 

And  learn   to   bear   the    Cross. 

"  No   double   heart,"  our    Saviour  said, 

"  Can   my    disciple   be ; 
Ye   must  give   up   your  life — ^your   all. 

If   ye   would  follow   Me." 


OUR    BLESSED   LORD.  33 


XIV. 

OUR  LORD  TRANSFIGURED  IN  THE  MOUNT. 

On  rocky   Tabor's   mountain   height, 

As   eve  was   steahng   on, 
Christ   Jesus  knelt  in   secret  prayer 

With   Peter,   James,   and   John  ; 

And,   as   He  prayed,   His  countenance 
Was   changed  before   their   sight : 

His   visage   shone    with   hght   divine ; 
His   raiment   ghttered   bright. 

Then   Moses   and   Ehas   came, 
And   with   our   Saviour  spake 

Of    all   that   He   should   do   for  men, 
And   suffer  for   their   sake  : 


04  THE    HISTORY    OF 

And   soon   a   voice   from   heaven  fell 

Upon   the   Apostles'   ear, 
Which  said,  "  This  is  mine  only  Son — 

My   First-begotten   hear." 

"  O   let  us   make  three   holy  tents !" 

The   trembling   Peter   said ; 
But  he  knew  not  of  what  he  spake, 

For  he  was   sore   afraid : 

And  then  our  Saviour  charged  them  all. 
When   they   were   left   alone, 

To  keep  those  wonders  in  their  hearts, 
Nor  let  them  yet  be  known. 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  35 


XV. 

OUR  LORD'S  ENTRY  INTO  JERUSALEM. 

Soon   after   this,  our    Saviour   left 
Gennesaret's   honoured   shore, 

To  preach  the  Word  in  Jordan's  plains, 
Where  He   had  been   before. 

And  there,  to  meek  and  humble  hearts, 
His   gospel   truth   He   taught — 

Spake    many  beauteous  parables, 
And   many   wonders  wrought. 

And   now   towards   Jerusalem 
Christ   Jesus   draweth   nigh. 

That  feast  to  keep,  at  which  the  true 
And   real  Lamb   must   die. 


36  THE    HISTORY    OF 

He   rides   upon   an   ass's   colt, 
While   crowds   before  him  run, 

Who  cry  "  Hosanna  to  the  Lord  ! 
Hosanna !     David's    Son ! " 

They  cast  their  garments  in  the  way — 
With   shouts   they  sing    His    praise; 

But   what   a   diflferent  cry  will   soon 
Those   fickle   voices   raise ! 

And  He  who  hears  them  knows  it  well, 

And   gazes,    with    a   sigh. 
On   that   unhappy   city,   doomed 

Her   God   to   crucify ! 

"O  Salem!"  Jesus  weeps,  "if  thou 
Hadst  known — yea    even   thou, 

The  things  belonging  to  thy  peace — 
But    they    are   hidden   now! 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  37 

"  For  days  shall  come  in  which  thy  foes 

Shall   compass   thee   around, 
And  keep   thee   in   on   every   side, 

And  raze   thee    to   the   ground ! " 


38  THE    HISTORY    OF 


XVI. 


OUR  LORD  BETRAYED,  AND  HIS  AGONY  IN 
THE  GARDEN 

In  Zion's   holy   Temple   court 

A  wicked  traitor    stood, 
Who   grasped   within   his   guilty   hands 
The   price   of   guiltless   blood. 

'Mid  Priests  and  Scribes  assembled  round, 

Iscariot's   voice   was   heard, 
Which  said,   "  For   thirty   pieces   given, 

I   will  betray  my   Lord." 

Now,  while  their  own  Messiah's  death 

The   Jewish   rulers   sought. 
And,    at  the   value   of    a   slave, 

The   blood   of  Jesus   bought ; 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  39 

Our   Saviour   in   Gethsemane 

His    Spirit   did   prepare, 
And   knelt  before   His   Father's   throne 

In   fervency    of   prayer. 

With   bitter    agony   of    heart, 

Thrice   prayed   the   Blessed   Son  ; 

"  O    Father,    if   it   must   be   so, 
Thy   Holy   will   be   done!" 

And,  as   it   were,   great  drops   of  blood 

Fell   down   upon   the    sod. 
Until   an   angel   came   from   Heaven 

To   aid   the   Son   of    God. 

James,  John,  and  Peter,  charged  by  Christ 

A   careful  watch   to   keep, 
Thrice,  when  our  Saviour  came  to  them. 

Were    found  by  Him   asleep. 


40 


THE    HISTORY    OF 


"  What !   could  ye  not  one  hour  watch  1 " 

Our  meek   Redeemer   said; 
"  Rest,  now,  ye    sleepers ; — yet  arise — 

Behold   we    are   betrayed ! " 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  41 


XVIL 

OUR  LORD  BEFORE  HEROD. 

While  yet  He  spake,  the  traitor  came 
With   lantern,    staff,    and   sword, 

Surrounded   by    a   band   of  men, 
To  take   our   Blessed   Lord; 

"  Hail,  Master ! "   with  a  kiss,  he  cried ; 

But  Jesus   mildly   said, 
"  O  Judas !   with   a  kiss  of  peace 

Is   Jesus    Christ   betrayed?" 

As   lions   fasten   on   a   lamb. 
They   seized  upon  their   prey  ; 

And   to   the   house   of  Caiaphas 
They   led   our  Lord   away. 


42  THE    HISTORY    OF 

And  thence  to  Pilate's  judgment-seat, 
And   thence   to   Herod's   court, 

Where  hired  men  with  perjured  tongues 
Proclaimed   their  false    report. 

Then   Herod,    with   his    men   of  war, 

Set   Jesus   Christ    at  nought. 
And   clothed   Him   in    a  royal    robe 

With    gorgeous   colours   wrought. 

They  scoffed  Him — though  in  silence  meek 
Each   cruel    taunt  was   borne, — 

And   sent   Him    back   to   Pilate's   hall, 
With   mockery  and   scorn. 


OUR      LORD     WIOCKED. 


iTidzraii  7i3 


44  THE    HISTORY    OP 

"  Thou   art,   if  this  man   be  set  free, 
No   friend   to    Csesar's   crown." 

Then   Pilate   was   the   more    afraid ; 
Again   he   sat  him   down. 

"  Art  thou  a  King  1 " — but  Jesus  made 

No    answer   in  reply. 
The  people  grew  more  loud  and  fierce. 

The   tumult   waxed   high. 

In  purple  robe,  and  crowned  with  thorns, 
Our   Blessed    Saviour    stood, 

A  patient   Lamb   'mid   angry   wolves 
Who  thirsted  for   His   Blood. 

Then  Pilate  washed  his  hands,  and  said, 

"  Look   to   it   as  ye   can, 
I   will   not  take    upon   myself 

The   Blood   of  this   Just  Man." 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  45 

"  His  Blood  be  on  our  children's  heads !" 

The   blinded    sinners   cry — 
"  Release   Barabbas   unto   us, 

And  Jesus   crucify ! " 


46  THE    HISTORY    OP 


XIX. 

OUR  LORD  BEARS  HIS  CROSS. 

Christ  is  condemned — blood  thirsty-hands 
Seize   on  the    Lamb  of  God  ; 

They  smite,  they  buffet  Him  with  scorn, 
They   scourge    Him    with   the  rod. 

The   purple   robe   with   deeper    hue 
His  precious   Blood    doth    stain : 

They  pluck   it    off — and     put   His   own 
Mean  raiment   on   again. 

And  then,  with  hardened  hearts  of  stone 

That   cannot   feel   remorse, 
They   lay   on  His    enfeebled    Form 

The   burden   of  the    Cross : 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  47 

But  Jesus   sinks   beneath   its  weight, 

And    Simon    standing   by, 
They   bid   him   bear   it  after   Him 

To  fatal    Calvary. 

Then   wept   the   daughters  of  the   land 

TJiat   cruel   sight  to    see  : 
But  Jesus,   turning  to   them,   said, 

"  O  do   not   weep   for   Me ! 

*'  Weep  for  yourselves  and  for  your  babes — 

For  awful  days  are  nigh ; 
If  fire   consumes   the   growing   tree, 

How   shall   it   burn   the   dry?" 


48  THE    HISTORY    OP 


XX. 

OUR  LORD  CRUCIFIED. 

Beside   His    Cross,   in  Golgotha, 
The   world's   Redeemer   stands ; 

Rough    soldiers   pierce   with   iron    nails 
His   blessed   Feet   and   Hands; 

They   lay   Him   down   upon   the   Cross; 

They   nail   Him   to   the   wood; 
Then  raise  Him  groaning  from  the  earth 

All   crimson   with   His   Blood. 

"  Father,   forgive   them ! "   Jesus   cried, 
"They   know   not   what   they   do." 

Then   on   his   mother,    standing  by, 
A   pitying  glance   He   threw. 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  49 

To  His   own   best-beloved   He   spake, 
"Behold   thy   mother,    John!" 

And   to   the   weeping   Mary   said, 
"Woman,   behold   thy    Son!" 

Two   robbers  near  our   Saviour's  Cross 

On   either   side   were   hung; 
One   railed   upon   the    Son    of    God, 

With   foul,    blaspheming   tongue; 

But,    full   of  faith,    the    other   cried, 
"My   God,  I   trust   in   Thee! 

When  to  Thy  kingdom  Thou  shalt  come, 
O   Lord,   remember   me." 

Upon   that   penitent   in   heart 
The    Saviour   turns   His   eyes, 

"  Yea,   thou   shalt   be,    this   very  day, 
With   me    in   Paradise  ! " 


50  THE    HISTORY    OF 

"  I  thirst ! "   then  said  our  dying   Lord — 
They   raised   the   bitter   cup  ; — 

He  bowed  His  Head. — For  sinful  man 
The    Christ   is   offered   up. 

Then  was  the  sun  to  sackcloth  turned — 
Thick  darkness  wrapped  the  plain ; 

The  rocks  were  rent ; — the  Temple  shook  ; 
Her   veil  was   reft   in   twain. 

The   trembling   soldier   at  his   post 

Fell   prostrate   on   the    sod, 
And,  pale    with    terror,    cried   aloud, 

"This   was   the    Son   of  God!" 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  51 


XXI. 

OUR  SAVIOUR  BURIED. 

Now,   when   the    eventide   was  come 

Before    the    Sabbath   day, — 
Because   upon   the    accursed   tree 

The   bodies   might   not   stay ; 

To  Pontius   Pilate   Joseph   came, 
And   prayed  he   might   receive 

His   leave   to   take  our    Saviour    down ; 
So   Pilate   gave   him   leave. 

Then   he    and  Nicodemus   went. 
With    aloes,    myrrh,    and    spice. 

And   linen   cloths   in  which   to  wrap 
The   Holy    Sacrifice ; 


52  THE    HISTORY    OF 

And  from  His  Cross,  with  reverent  hands, 
Took   down   the   Blessed   Son, 

And    wound   within  the   hnen   cloths 
Jehovah's   Holy   One. 

Now,   there   was   nigh   unto   the    Cross 

A   sepulchre,  or   cave — 
The  which  they  chose,  as  near  at  hand. 

For  our   Redeemer's   grave. 

And  there, — while  warm  and  bitter  tears 

Adown   their   faces   ran, — 
With   pious   love    and   holy   awe 

They  laid    the    Son  of  Man. 

The  wicked  Jews,  remembering   then 

How   Jesus    Christ   had    said, 
That,  though  they  slew  Him,  He  should  rise 

The   third  day  from   the    dead, 


OUR      LORD'S      BURIAL 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  53 

Prayed   Pilate   to   seal   up   the   cave, 

And  place   a   faithful   guard 
Of    Roman    soldiers    at   its   mouth, 

To   keep   strict   watch   and   ward. 

And  so  they  did ; — while  near  them  stood, 

And   gazed   upon   the    scene, 
Mary,   the   wife   of    Cleophas, 

And   Mary   Magdalene. 

These  women  saw,  with  anguished  hearts, 

Where   Jesus'   Body  lay — 
Then   spice   and   ointment   they   prepared, 

And   kept  the    Sabbath   day. 


54  THE    HISTORY    OP 


XXII. 

OUR  LORD'S  RESURRECTION  FROM  THE  DEAD. 

Now,   on   the   first   day   of   the   week, 
While   yet   the   moon   was   high, 

And   dawn   had   scarce   begun   to   streak 
Judea's   Eastern   sky; 

The   pious  Marys   left   their   home, 

In   darkness    and   in   gloom. 
With   spice    and   ointment  in   their   hands, 

To   seek   their   Saviour's   tomb. 

And   now,   behold,   it   came    to   pass, 

On   that   eventful   morn, 
As  drew   the    Sabbath  near   its   end 

And   light   began   to    dawn, 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  55 

A   fearful   tremor   shook   the   ground — 

Earth   trembled   from   below — 
And   came   an   angel   down   from  heaven 

In   raiment   white    as  snow. 

With   might  he   rolled   away   the    stone 

Upon   the    cavern    laid: — 
At    sight   of    him   the   keepers   fled — 

For  they   were    sore   afraid: 

And,    as   he   sat  beside   the   grave, 
With   countenance   like   flame, 

Forth   from   the   city   to   the   tomb 
The   pious   Marys   came. 

Then   greatly   feared   they — till   he   spake, 

And   gently  to   them   said — 
"Ye    seek   the  Lord;     but   He   is  risen — 

Behold   where   He    was   laid! 


56  THE    HISTORY    OF 

"And   now   to   His   disciples   haste, 
And   tell   how   ye   have   heard 

That   Christ   is   risen   from   the   dead, 
According   to   His   Word." 


\\I/A 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  57 


XXIII. 

OUR  LORD'S  ASCENSION  INTO  HEAVEN. 

Upon   the   morn   that  Jesus   rose, 

He   first   of    all   was   seen 
Beside   His   holy   sepulchre, 

By   Mary   Magdalene. 

And   then   He   showed   Himself    at  last 

To    all   the   blest   eleven, 
As   they   were    sitting   at  their  meat 

The  self-same  day  at  even. 

For  forty  days  with  those  he  loved 
Our  Blessed    Lord   remained. 

And  taught  them  all  the  wondrous  things 
That  to  His    Church    pertained ; 


58  THE    HISTORY    OP 

Then  led  them  out  to  Bethany — 
And,    after   He   had   given 

His  choicest  blessing  to  them  all, 
Ascended  up   to   Heaven. 

And  there,  at  the  right  hand  of  God, 
With    angel   hosts    around. 

Our  Saviour  Christ   in   glory  sits 
Until   the   trump    shall   sound — 

That   awful   trumpet   that   will   fill 
The  sinner's   heart   with   dread, 

When  Jesus  Christ   shall    come  again 
To  judge   the   quick   and   dead. 

Now   glory   be   unto   the    Lamb 

For   our   salvation   slain! 
All   glory   to   the    Son  of  God 

Who   died   and   rose  again ! 


OUR     LORD      ASCENDIMC     TO     HEAVEN 


^nd-tceO-  2*2- 


OUR    BLESSED    LORD.  59 

To  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 

Be    highest   glory   given, 
From  all  the  Church  throughout  the  world, 

And   all   the    Saints   in   Heaven ! 


,VHNM^ 


,uX^ 


stereotyped  by  V^incent  L.  Dill,  12S  Fulton  St.  New-York. 


